Iowa City Firefighters Honored for Saving Lives

Media Release

Recently promoted Captain Greg Tinnes, Firefighter Paul Suedkamp, and Firefighter Chris Buckman were awarded the Lifesaver Commendation Award at a shift briefing by Fire Chief Andrew J. Rocca on Tuesday, December 18, 2012. The Lifesaver Award is presented to fire department personnel that have performed the exceptional act of saving another person's life. The three-member crew responded on Engine 3 to a working structure fire at 2401 Highway 6 East on September 7, 2011, where second story occupants awakened to a smoke filled bedroom. The two realized they would not be able to escape through the smoke and made their way to the second story window where Firefighters Suedkamp and Buckman successfully performed a ladder-based rescue. A third occupant was taken out of the burning building through the front door and to safety by Captain Tinnes. 

Chief Rocca commended the three for their quick and decisive actions that night and for fulfilling their prime objective of saving a human life. The fire chief stated that firefighters are depended upon when citizen's lives or their personal property are in peril from fire and that firefighters must perform at maximum efficiency at these critical times. The mission of the Iowa City Fire Department is to protect our community by providing progressive, high quality emergency and preventive services and these life-saving actions personify the department's mission.